My World of 1x1s discussion
Fantasy
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Pyry (Ji Mei and DD)
Waving Niel's words away, Dixon leaned forward, studying him. The usual jovial light was gone and instead was a smirk that was more dangerous than amused. "No, I'm not going to say anything of what I could want until you give me a better, detailed plan. Make it seem that Pyry attacked first? How can that work? I'm a demon, not a magician. I can't just wave my hands and convince everyone that Pyry is in the wrong." Then his smirk turned into a grin as he eyed Niel. "Now, let's say, I could make it seem that Pyry found a way to poison someone. Would a prince really want to poison himself?"
Fair enough... The prince thought. If it didn't look like he had a plan, then the demon was hardly likely to go along with it and risk his neck."A prince would sacrifice anything for his country. Why not his life?" He noted solemnly. "Now, there is a plan, of course. Currently, the castle is bustling with meal and event preparations, multiple attendants for every royal visitor present at the summit. You can imagine, among all the chaos, it wouldn't be hard to slip a bit of poison into the drinks. Now, there won't actually be any poison. I just need it to seem that way. You should easily be able to sneak in through the shadows, in addition to help from my servant. So long as you stay unseen, you can curse or use your magic on all of the foreign visitors aside from Pyry's royal family - including myself. Once the deed has been done, it should not take long for every country's men and messengers to go running back to their homelands to go up in arms. At the very least, my country is already preparing to invade. After that... I suppose it's up to you to do with your time as you please." He shrugged, watching his dangerous companion.
At the very least, it would appear that Niel's suggestion amused the man. Hopefully, this was a good response. The prince wasn't sure how much longer he could risk being overheard by passerby's. If Dixon didn't agree, Niel could very well have revealed everything and completely failed in his mission. He was placing more weight in the demon's decision that he ever had in another person and it could be either his doom or his greatest accomplishment as his country's prince. The anticipation ate at him, but he did not let it show. Nervousness could sway his acquaintance.
Admittedly, the plan intrigued Dixon. Of all the things he did in life, he never once came close to the royals; not because he couldn't, but because he'd been cautious of angels. However, now was a chance, and it was something he didn't want to pass up. After all, he came to the capital to have fun, make a splash, and to be honest, it'd be boring if he did his usual of drinking, sleeping with women, and tricking men out of their money. "I"m sure I can be creative with what I do with my time. But appear to poison them? You know that that means death eventually. And if I poison you as well, MIster Prince, well, in what way would you be fit enough to even give me a reward?"
"You keep reminding me of death, but I assure you I'm not so naive to think that some of us magically come out of this alive. Regarding your reward, it is subject to the situation and dependent on the type of reward you are seeking. I'm sure you're aware us royalty have our ways with one another. It would take little more than a letter and the proper seal to ensure your compensation." Niel offered.Unfortunately, the demon was still unreadable in his thoughts. Did he think Niel's plan was implausible? Where was his shield? If thinds turned sour, would he be able to escape in time for Shell to sacrifice herself in his place?
~~~
From a shadowed alley, the bodyguard stood watch, trying to read their target's body language. He didn't appear hostile, but he didn't have to be. He need but speak and those around him would begin dropping like flies. Perhaps she could aim for it's tongue... If he couldn't speak, he couldn't hurt people, right? She shook the thought, it was wishful thinking only. One or both of them could very well die today.
"I keep reminding you because that is all we face at the end." Dixon almost wanted to point out even he could die if a heavenly blade pierced him, but he decided to leave it out. If this prince was smart, he'd might want to find himself angels as well as a demon like himself. Only an angel can kill a demon, and more importantly, a demon that can turn the plot into his favor and rule the world. It would be smart if the prince wanted to silence him after the plot succeeds. But that is if the prince is that smart. And Dixon can't guarantee that he'd be safe, either from an angel the prince might have hiding away or the attention he'd gather because of the plot. While the prince offered him compensation, it wouldn't matter if he were too dead to enjoy it.
Dixon scratched the scruff on his jaw, eyeing Niel thoughtfully, a brow slightly raised in a question. "Perhaps we should put all cards on the table. I'm a demon. I can wish a sickness or an affliction on someone and they could die. But you, a mere mortal, you should have some power of your own, right? Who is the one that told you about me? And I bet you didn't come here alone, so do you have a decent group of men to protect you?"
"I keep reminding you because that is all we face at the end." For some reason, the monster felt to include himself in that thought. So even he feared death, did he? From what, he couldn't imagine. The prince withheld his question because it was clear Dixon was thinking about his options. Pushing his cause needlessly could only hurt him."Perhaps we should put all cards on the table..." He began before confirming not only were Shell's suspicions true, but also that he indeed was a demon as the granddaughter had suggested. At first, Niel didn't want to give away all his secrets and tricks, but when he was so honest it was difficult to respond with silence. Instead, he allowed some truth.
"The one who told me about you..." He took a beat to think. Should he give her away? It's not as though the demon knew where she lived... and her involvement did lead to the confrontation, but Niel had his reasons prior to overhearing her confession. "Well, it's as I said. I overheard her confession to a priest and questioned her. I didn't think her identity was of major importance aside from her role as the old healer's granddaughter." He admitted, afraid that if he lied, the demon would come to sense it and cease the negotiation immediately. "Anyways, I have no supernatural abilities, merely the support of a countries worth of skilled soldiers, custom made weapons, and the self defense expected of a capable prince. If I had more than one attendant with me, it would be to suspicious. These summits have regulations. Of course, I've never needed more than myself and my bodyguard. It's not as though I knew of the reality of demons and magic before I came to this country." He shook his head, feeling the corners of his lips twitch upwards. "And yet you, with these abilities so deeply fear being caught and I can't imagine why..." He studied the demon's face as though it would somehow give him the all the answers, "Except in the case that there are ways you could be hurt or punished for doing such a thing. What? Afraid someone could get the jump on you and cut your tongue out?" He chuckled.
Just a fraction, Dixon relaxed. So the informant wasn't an angel. He heard stories of that it was a tactic angels used to weed out demons that blended in with humans very well. They'd used humans that have been around them to basically scare them out of hiding. So far, Dixon had never had this happen to him and he'd like to keep it that way. Nodding as he listened to Niel, expecting his description, Dixon was just thinking that the conversation was getting boring when Niel changed directions. His eyes narrowed as he grinned at Niel, a cold aura falling upon him. "Laugh like that again and you can wish your life and your plot for war goodbye." Then his expression became more calm as he added, "Rather than afraid, it is being more cautious. It's not fun having people discover you're a demon and try to kill you. It would give me a backache if someone stabbed me suddenly."
Niel didn't think the creature would outright tell him his weakness. That would have been beyond foolish. He supposed he'd have to look into more lore and speak with a priest before his curiosity would be satisfied.He held up his hands surrender to the threat. "I'm guilty of curiosity, to be sure, but I'd never be stupid enough to intentionally offend someone like you. You have my apologies." He offered a smile. "On the contrary, I find it rather amusing when someone makes an attempt at my life. The look of regret and surprise when the tables turn so quickly never fails to amuse me." He shrugged. "At the very least, it keeps things interesting, no?" He shook his head.
"Either way, it is difficult to set your mind at ease when you don't share your concerns with me. With your-er-shadow travel, I doubt anyone could get a long enough look at your face to remember it. The guards wouldn't be able to catch you, surely. Part of your appeal is that you're so unbelievable, everyone will more quickly assume that the royal family of Pyry is to blame than demon involvement." He appealed. There had to be some part of the monster that wanted this too, right? Weren't demons supposed to be all about chaos and destruction and the worst of humanity?
Dixon had to admit, he agreed with Niel's perspective; he couldn't think of the last time he'd really ever been threatened and perhaps that is why things seemed so boring lately. And Niel's proposal, while not flashy like he wished things could be, Dixon thought it would be fun to sneak around a palace full of guards, servants, and royals. It was a challenge, one that he'd never taken on. Why did he even go to the capital if he never went to the palace? It would be such a shame and he bet he could make a story out of it. For a couple moments, he kept silent, having made a decision, but delaying just to observe the prince. He wondered what made the man the person he is. Were royals all like him? Or was he just particularly uncaring for the life of humans? Perhaps Dixon shared more qualities than he'd ever thought before.
Sighing, shaking his head and grinning, Dixon raised his hands up as if what he's saying is up in the air. "Not that you're very persuasive, but you just happened to catch my attention enough. As long as I get to have fun, then I accept. And my terms is not only a lot of money, but allowance in visiting your country."
He accepted. The words had Niel's smile spreading even wider to accommodate the relief he felt. He certainly didn't want to die today before he could contribute to his country's cause, though if the demon had been feeling generous, it was possible Shell would have had to run back to the castle screaming murder and, though the other countries wouldn't have been involved like he hoped, there was still some (albeit slippery) grounds for invasion. "If you do this for us, such rewards are much smaller than I had imagined. So be it. I'll make arrangements to notify the King after it has been done. I'm not sure if you've been to the palace, but I'll let you know of the meeting room as soon as I know tomorrow. I'll have my attendant pass on the information." He nodded, coming to a stand and holding out his hand. "Shall we shake on the agreement?" He offered.
~~~
Una could practically feel the prince's positive change of expression. He looked like the moment he had been waiting for his whole life had finally happened. From the looks of it, the demon had agreed to his proposal. Niel was giddy, for him at least. The bodyguard realized her own body had been tense when her muscles suddenly relaxed. The worst of the danger had passed.
Noting the man's smile, Dixon had never expected him to be so pleased about his agreement to the proposal. Holding out his hand, Dixon replied, "As I assume that whatever attendant you have has been following me, do I need to tell you where I would be in order to get information?" His tone was more playful as he glanced around the area to as if he could see the person who informed Niel about his shadow traveling and other powers.
"She should be able to track you down. I wouldn't want her skills getting rusty." He assured Dixon. Apparently, the man was curious because he kept looking around as though to catch her. "Looking for her? "She's hidden, but I'd like to keep it that way for now if it's not too much trouble. If you decide to change your mind and kill me, she can make sure some war still starts, but if you decide to kill both of us, then there's much less hope my wishes will be carried out." He explained his reasoning. "Just as a precaution. I'm sure you understand."Indeed, the prince was in a good mood, perhaps he'd buy some fresh bread and tip the baker a handsome amount. After all, the days for these citizens could very well be numbered. He bid his companion adieu and made his way back towards the castle, all but skipping on his way.
***End Scene***
Niel breathed easily, though his mind was moving a mile a minute, trying to stay on task and appear oblivious. The time was upon them. Dinner would be starting any minute and only time would tell if the demon would go along with the plan. If not, his shield had strict orders to destroy the documents binding their contract. Actually, he hadn't said anything to her like parting words the last time they had spoke. She merely confirmed that the directions to the banquet hall had been delivered. "Another banquet... Wouldn't it have been more fun to have a ball? There's been no dancing or fun since we've come here. It's all talking politics and eating. I thought this was a peace summit, not a dying of boredom festival." His younger sister complained. Oh right, she was accompanying him to the banquet.
"Did you always like to dance?" He asked. Honestly, he knew very little about her. Although they were siblings, they had never been close. Needless to say it just occurred to him how little he knew of her interests. Not that it matters. We'll both be dead soon enough. Not that she should mind too much. It's for our country after all.
"Of course." She responded incredulously. Niel simply shrugged and continued tuning her out like he had normally done.
Once they diplomats and representatives arrived, everyone was seated, a server next to every participant, ready to assist at a moment's notice. Personal bodyguards were prohibited from joining the dinner, but were allowed to stand towards the side. Una kept to herself, standing patiently like a statue and facing the banquet table before her, she watched, wondering if this really would be the last banquet she'd have to sit through for the prince.Would she miss him? Probably not, but they had spent over a year together...
Rubbing the scruff on his chin in thought, Dixon eyed the palace that glowed in the night. The sun had just slipped beneath the horizon, the sky a deep turquoise slowly turning to midnight blue. Fires were light evenly around, but there were still shadows that Dixon could emerge from. Earlier in the day, he had pretended to be one of the men hired to preparing for the banquet before he slipped away to a corner to hide and watch until night. Noting the patrolling times of the guards, his gaze flicked to the kitchens where light poured out of the open doorway and the sound of shouting and clattering pots and pans filtered out. Dixon supposed he could go through that way, be quick and easy and no one might notice another scruffy man in the castle.
Or there was the front entrance. It was very tempting to just stroll right through those doors, disguised as some other royal there for the banquet. Dixon always liked being flashy and it made him smile to think of people bowing to him, girls fawning over him as he walked around with a regal air.
In the back of his mind, there was a slight twinge, just the smallest of headaches that could be easily dismissed. Which Dixon did as he sighed and straightened out his clothes. Neither option was probably good so he cast his eyes to some balconies above that were dark. It seemed there weren't any guards there. Fixing his destination in mind, Dixon stepped back into the darkness and emerged from the shadows that crowded the balcony doors.
When the servers filed into the dining room with the trays of food, Una felt a shiver in her spine. Her hands deftly slid into her pocket to feel for the papers securing her parents' and Dixon's compensation. Her directions were simple: wait for the prince to fall, check his pulse and declare him dead, then ride back to Errebist and go from there. She even knew which horse she'd be stealing.Once her nerves regarding the paperwork had been settled, her eyes scanned the shadows. Where was that shaggy demon? She had delivered his directions as promised-well- she'd anonymously dropped off a scroll into his dwelling when he was away. Then, she'd stayed to watch him read it before heading back to the castle. She thought it was odd that they were placing their faith in a demon, but it was her master's wish and she couldn't disobey.
Niel smiled at what would be his last introduction before taking a seat beside his sister. Rather than feeling nervous, he'd passed that state to become rather elated. He was free of obligations and worry. His final job was simple: die. And since even that job wasn't in his hands, he could simply be another human enjoying a delicious feast. He raised his glass at the toast to "Peace" and the health of all the rulers.
Dixon glanced around the corner to look through the balcony door windows, trying to see if there were any guards inside the room beyond. It was quiet and dark, the furnishings didn't look overly extravagant so Dixon assumed it was a guest bedroom. Faster than a blink of an eye, he was inside and heading up to the door to see if any guards were posted outside. Through the keyhole he didn't see anything and he didn't hear anything, so without further hesitations, he slipped outside. The hallway went off to the left and right, looking as if the one to the left turned towards the front of the castle. Looking around for a moment, Dixon's eyes landed on a painting of a man in fine clothes and a typical pose of dignity next to his horse. Studying it, he cast an illusion on himself, putting on the clothes and mimicking the hairstyle of the man. Might be outdated, but Dixon supposed he would look more out of place in his normal clothes.
Holding his head held high, he walked with purpose as he made his way through the hallways towards the banquet room. The prince of Errebist had told him some of the layout of the castle, so Dixon was just navigating based on his sense of direction and tuition along with what he saw of the castle from the outside.
It seemed there weren't many servants roaming the halls, which he assumed was because all of them were attending to the royals guests and the banquet and left very little possibility of him being seen.
As he walked along, he couldn't help but marvel at the castle's structure and decoration, the opulence just seeping into the atmosphere. For all of his life, he had just gone about, being a storyteller, killing people if he wanted, messing around. Dixon couldn't believe he never thought about trying to live the rich life. Then again, for much of his life in the beginning, he was just trying to figure out who and what he was. Strangely enough, Dixon had never met another demon and it made him wonder what it would be like to cross paths with his own kind. Could they have similar powers? Would they be friendly or just as likely to want to kill him like all other criminals would? It was an intriguing thought that he'd have to go back to later as he heard noises coming down below as he entered a hallway that opened up above the main foyer.
More guards were about and many servants were bustling below as they made sure the meal went on smoothly. Dixon recalled that it was a ten-course meal so he still had time to get in, then get out before anyone was the wiser. Taking in the uniform of a man heading inside with wine, Dixon changed his illusion and shadow traveled to a corner down below where he wouldn't be noticed before he headed towards the open doors.
"To our people and our connections. May we always look towards Peace." The King toasted and glasses clinked, taking a sip at the same time as everyone else, as is custom as such summits to show equal importance and respect.Niel's sister sat at his right while the Church's representative. The Errebist Prince found it a little odd that the faith had such importance that it could attend their peace summits. After all, Errebist royals hardly acknowledged it, let alone their people. Pyry, on the other hand, highly regarded the religion and made it a prominent presence in almost every town and community. It seemed a bit excessive to the prince, but he supposed it did promote some scrap of truth, at least on the existence of demons.
"Your highness, I trust the travel here from your country was not too burdening." The representative began conversationally. Niel's sister was already chatting with some prince from the North animatedly.
"No, of course not. Thank you for your concern. Say, you represent the Church, I have come to understand. I'm sorry to say that your institution's haven't reached to establish themselves much in Errebist."
"No need to apologize, my Lord. I believe that those who have not known the Faith will all come to believe when it is their time."
"Right. You must be well acquainted with the lore and stories, then regarding The First Angel and those demons I've heard talk of."
"Yes, of course, though instead of 'lore' or 'stories,' I believe these teachings to be reality. I could not very well represent the Church without being trained as a priest first. What makes you bring up the topic?"
"I was simply curious, you see. I'd heard talk of angels and demons, but I'm not familiar with what they are and where they come from. I thought, since I was fortunate enough to be seated next to you, that you might be kind enough to educate me on the subject. This is bound to be a rather long banquet given the amount of courses being prepared tonight." Of course, he wasn't sure what he would do with the information since he would die sometime soon. Perhaps one last curiosity could be fulfilled before his life ended. After all, he never did get to talk with a priest after speaking with Ivy.
He briefly wondered if she really was going to be able to save up enough money to pay for college. The odds certainly were stacked against her. She was in a fool's profession that didn't pay well and probably could hardly pay to feed herself with the famine let alone years of study in addition to support herself. Her dreams were groundless...
"My! I had no idea you held such curiosity! Indeed it would be my pleasure to share my knowledge, though the history is a bit extensive, so forgive me if I shorten and summarize a bit."
"Not at all, your holiness. We have a bit of time for the dinner, so embellish as you wish." He smiled and offered a cheers to their friendship for the evening.
The prince tried to savor the evening, as it was his last. He listened to the priest's words, actually interested in the story he spun, but also holding the anticipation in the back of his mind. Dixon had received his instructions, but would everything go according to plan? If he didn't show and changed his mind... what could the prince do to salvage his plan before his chance was lost?
The room was well lit with a giant crystal chandelier, the candles that were lit reflecting off of them and casting tiny rainbows around. There were various sconces along the walls that were well lit too. It seemed the only shadows that Dixon could see were behind the long curtains that draped beside the windows lining one wall and the dark corner where a side door led to who knows where. It left little room for him to escape quickly if it was necessary. Dixon smiled to himself. That is if he needed to escape in a hurry. Scanning the group of royals seated, his eyes landed on Niel before he moved on to look at the king and queen of the country he had roamed for most of his life. The queen was surprisingly young and the king seemed to be kingly, Dixon supposed. The other royals looked like other people, but just cleaner and more richly dyed clothing with a lot more jewels. But to him, they were all human and they were all so fragile.
Since it was a larger number of people, Dixon had to utter something more, almost like a spell or a curse. The words almost sounded like a different tongue, one that only other demons could decipher as he named symptoms that the illness that would soon make them all die.
Halfway through, though, something happened. Like a stab of pain right behind his eyes, Dixon stumbled over his words and he looked around with some confusion, wincing slightly as he pressed a hand to his temple. Someone sitting next to Niel was emitting a strong force and their image was shimmering slightly. Another stab hit him, and as he narrowed his eyes, he thought he saw something behind that shimmering image.
What was it? What was going on? Soon Dixon's words came to a stop and he had to force himself not to gasp as the man next to Niel turned and stared at him. Dixon's eyes widened as it dawned on him. It was an damn angel. Gritting his teeth against the pain ringing in his skull, Dixon briefly glanced over to Niel before he felt a shudder run down his spine. It was like an instinctual, animalistic need to run. He still felt the eyes of the angel on him.
Slowly, Dixon backed away, as much from pain as to also not attract attention to himself. As he made his way back into the main foyer, he immediately looked for shadows to melt into. He risked one glance over his shoulder to see if the angel was there before he stepped hurriedly to a dark corner nearby. Wishing himself good luck, Dixon blended into darkness and tried to make his way through shadows back outside and as far away from the angel as possible.
Niel was nodding along to the man's story, almost as though he was forgetting what was about to happen. When he was almost finished with his bit about the angels, his face turned away to look at something else beyond the royalty to the servants. Was something wrong? Almost in slow motion, the prince felt his head turn to look at his sister and it hit. People began wheezing, struggling to breathe, his sister included. Then, came the coughing, choking sound until you'd see blood spouting out. And he was experiencing it as well, but it also felt like he was having an out of body situation. Everything hurt so much that his mind was trying not to register the tragedy at all. He wasn't sure when he went unconscious, but the last thing he remembered before blacking out was reaching to comfort his sibling and then looking at the chandelier on the ceiling.
~~~
Una's master's body was spasming as she moved to be next to him. She tried not to look around for the demon. It was obvious that he had decided to make an appearance after all. Now she just had to wait to declare him dead before she could make a break for it. He was unconscious, still shaking a bit, and quickly growing colder. He should be dead soon.
The rest of the party had gone into a frenzy. Bodyguards and servers alike were screaming and panicked. Pitchers of priceless wine and plates of precious food fell to the floor in shock as the party members dropped like flies. Meanwhile, Pyry's royal family just stood in shock, not knowing whether they should be concerned or dying.
"Poison!" The first call came. "They were poisoned!"
"He's dead! The King of Myyloria is dead!"
After that, then the panic really began as about two more representatives drew their last breaths.
Una waited for her turn to claim the death of her lord except...except he was still breathing. It was weak, but he was alive.
"Get the healers!"
"Not the castle ones! They might finish them off!"
"It's not safe here, get them out!"
People were already moving for healers. Her master was still alive and yet... she was unsure if she should or not. Weren't they all supposed to die? Her eyes darted around the room. Where was Dixon? She couldn't see him anywhere among the chaos. She needed to make her decision now... try and get the prince to a healer or make a break for Errebist?
She didn't want to abandon the plan at all. Where would she even take him anyways? She hadn't planned on his survival... was this survival? Una had no clue what she should be doing and that began a panic in her for a completely other reason than every other bodyguard in the room.
Ivy. Prince Niel had said something about that fortune teller lady knowing something about medicine right? Damn she really needed to pay more attention when she thought his rambles were meaningless. She was running out of time...
If she returned with the prince alive... perhaps there was a bonus in store for her? Then again, if she disobeyed Niel's plan... that would entail all sorts of repercussions.
Niel gasped for air, the bloody prologue hopefully ceasing. She briefly wondered if her brother had suffered this much when he was murdered.
[Insert expletive here].
She couldn't leave him to die. Ivy it was. Lifting the man, the bodyguard made for the exits and didn't stop fighting until she was out on the marketplace streets, trying to remember where the woman's psychic tent resided. Most of the shops were starting to close down. She may have missed her chance, but she kept running.
Please, She begged no one in particular. Please let me find someone who can help.
Unlike the farmers and other stall holders of the marketplace, Ivy kept her stall up even into the evening. The others usually left when it reached noon, however she stayed since at night, different kinds of customers tend to show up asking for fortunes. Even though most of them were drunk, it was a better pay at times. She watched with mild interest as a few guards rushed up towards the palace before she returned to the task of taking down her stall.
Although it was a bit difficult with all the booths and shops being taken down, Una eventually found the familiar palm reading sign. The woman taking it down was wearing a similar mask to that day and she knew it had to be Ivy. She hid as the guards cam running past towards the palace, then quickly approached the woman.
"We need your healing skills. Immediately." She stated. She didn't have time to explain or elaborate. If the prince had died at the castle, she would have been on the way to Errebist, but he didn't. And now he was suffering and she felt obligated to do something.
Ivy gave a slight jump in surprise at the voice behind her and she turned to see who spoke to her, confused since she hadn't told many people about her medicinal experience and she didn't recognize the voice. Her grey eyes widened as Ivy took in the woman, the same one she remembered she did a fortune for in addition to the man who had asked her about the demon. The man looked pale, deathly so, and it seemed the woman was the only thing supporting him. Her curiosity conflicted with her instinctual desire to help whenever someone was sick. Pursing her lips, she glanced to her stall, still not completely dismantled. Shaking her head to herself, she looked to the woman. "Do you mind bringing him to the inn I'm staying at? I can get a carriage, but you'll have to wait here for a moment."
Una hesitated. She didn't like the idea of letting the woman out of her sight. For all she knew, she could be lying and skip out on them as soon as they leave in the carriage.Still, it's not as though Una had many options at this point. She nodded deftly and moved to set down her lord. His breaths were shallow and strained, though the bloody coughs had ceased, so that was some sort of improvement, she hoped.
"You'll be faster if I help." She amended, covering Niel with her cloak, making sure to hide his royal attire and recognizable face. Her eyes quickly scanned the dwindling crowd for more guards and, as she saw none, she quickly went about helping the woman dismantle her tent. Between the two of them, it didn't take long and by the time the carriage arrived, they were just finishing up.
After they dismantled her stall, Ivy had went a little bit further up the street to wave down a carriage. Loading up the tent and the man, Ivy leaned over to tell the man instructions to the inn she was staying at before they were off. Eyeing the man, her eyes narrowed, Ivy was wondering what kind of illness befell the man. He seemed so healthy-- annoyingly so in her opinion, with too good hearing-- so the illness could be a fast-acting one. That worried her somewhat since mainly she had to go off of the knowledge she gained from when she was a child and it has been a few years since she did anything with medicine other than the treatment of herself and some of those that were in the circus.
Glancing up to the woman in front of her as they came to a halt in front of the inn, Ivy muttered a quick "thank you" to the driver before she began to take out her tent. Again she glanced over to the woman. "You take him inside. My room is number 8. Tell the innkeeper that you're a friend of mine and to send some fresh water and towels, all right?"
Una remained silent throughout their work and ride to the inn. Her mind buzzed nervously. Her boss was out of commission and it had been a while since she had acted without guidance. It felt like sitting on a prickly chair after standing for a long time: uncomfortable, but necessary.She tried to keep her expression otherwise neutral. Ivy was being seemingly compliant, but Una didn't know her as well as Niel and couldn't afford to let down her guard just yet.
"You take him inside. My room is number 8. Tell the innkeeper that you're my friend of mine and to send some fresh water and towels, all right?" Ivy directed.
The bodyguard muttered in protest, "I need to make sure you don't run away." The look she received in response told her that the words sounded ridiculous. Apparently, trusting the fortune teller wasn't an option. Una nodded before obediently heading inside.
The innkeeper seemed to do just as Ivy predicted, by helping Niel to room 8 and quickly sending for some water and cloth. Una guarded the door while she waited for the mysterious woman's return.
Ivy chose to ignore the woman as she went to take care of her things,, paying the carriage man before she took her stall and put in the shed next to the inn. For a moment she paused, taking a deep breath. Hopefully things her grandmother taught her would come back more strongly once she started. Making her way to her room, she paused to ask the innkeeper for a bowl of broth as well. As she made her way up the stairs, Ivy looked at the woman outside her door with a raised brow. "You can enter. There's no need to stay outside," she said before she went inside.
Looking down at the man, Ivy reached out her hand and pressed the back of it to his forehead. There was a slight fever, so immediately she set about dipping cloth in water and wringing it out to start dabbing at his forehead. "So, what happened to him?" she asked.
"You can enter. There's no need to stay outside."Una moved out of the way to let her through. "It's safer." She muttered before following her in. Ivy went straight to working, checking on Niel and wetting a towel for his forehead. All Una could do was stand and wait for orders.
"Poison." She lied. That was supposed to be the story right? Though, would she believe her otherwise? "He couldn't breathe, then coughing blood, and now fever, unconsciousness and shortness of breath." According to Niel, she had been the one that knew about the demon in the first place. She might believe her... but would she betray them and tell someone? Then again, she could always kill her afterwards to tie up loose ends. Speaking of which, she wondered about the only other person that had known about their plan. Where had Dixon run off to? And why was Niel alive? She had questions, to be sure, but no way of asking them. Not that she had any business doing so in the first place. She'd have to wait for Niel to regain consciousness to decide their next plan of action.
"Poison?" Ivy's brow furrowed, as she bit her lip. Detecting what kind of poison was hard, especially since it has been some time since the initial poisoning occurred. If it took her too long to determine what poison it was, if at all, then it might be too late for the man lying on her bed right now.Ivy walked over to a chest at the foot of the bed. Inside were clothes and all the items she managed to bring with her from her home and on her travels since. Digging past some of her clothes, she pulled out a tattered-looking book with black marks on the the cover. It was the only one that she managed to salvage from her grandmother's collection. Hopefully it could help her determine what kind of poison it was.
Looking up at the woman, she asked, "Do you have any guess as to how the poison was administered? Powder or liquid form?"
Una sat beside the prince uncomfortably. She did not like the feeling of not being able to do anything to help, especially when she had to lie about his method of falling ill. If she couldn't help him recover, then she was just waiting for him to die. And at that point, shouldn't she just head for Errebist anyways?"Do you have any guess as to how the poison was administered? Powder of liquid form?" Ivy questioned after pulling out a large book from an old trunk.
"L-liquid. Probably." She spoke. Wine was the cover story wasn't it? someone poisoning all the wine?
"Poison was probably added to the wine at the banquet." She lied more confidently.
She watched Niel's shallow breaths and sweating temple and wondered if he would actually be able to survive this demon's curse.
Nodding, Ivy flipped through a pages before the woman's words sunk in. Blinking, not sure she heard quite right, Ivy glanced over at the man lying in the bed, finally taking in his fine clothes and her eyes went back to the woman. "Banquet? As in the royal banquet?" she asked slowly, clutching the book in her hands more tightly.
Una paused for a moment, debating if Niel would approve of her confirming the palm reader's assumptions. Slowly, unsurely, she nodded her head, "Yes." The bodyguard watched the woman carefully, hand sliding to her weapon in case she attempted anything brash. For one thing, Ivy couldn't be allowed to escape if she found out about the prince's actual predicament. If Niel ended up dying in her care, it also would stand to reason that she wouldn't be able to live. At least, that was what the prince had explained to her during one of his many rants.
Ivy felt her mind stutter at the woman's affirmation to her question. Who was this man and this woman if they attended the banquet? Were they the only ones poisoned? She vaguely recalled seeing guards running up to the palace. Her eyes widened slightly, her vision blurring as her fingers paused on the page in front of her. What if the king and queen of Pyry were poisoned too? A shudder ran down her spine before she could help it, but the involuntary reaction brought her focus to the task at hand. Turning to the woman, Ivy gestured to the water basin in the room. "Bring that over to his side. I'm going to try to make him vomit up the poison, okay? It shouldn't be lethal. If there was poison in wine, it should come out," she said as she went to back to the chest at the foot of the bed.
Digging through its contents, she brought up a small chest, which she opened, revealing a variety of bottles with herbs inside. Reading the labels, she pulled out the ones she needed, glancing up at the woman and the man on the bed, worry making her fingers tremble slightly.
The woman appeared to be conflicted, likely wondering what exactly their purpose had been at the palace. Both Una and Niel appeared more exotic than the average pyrian, but that didn't necessarily spell out all the details of their presence.She remained quiet, nodding along to the plan. Vomiting wasn't pleasant, though, and she was unsure if this treatment would be at all effective, especially when there hadn't been any poison administered. Would Niel punish her for that? She supposed she wasn't in a position to worry about such things. She did as instructed and assisted Ivy with sitting the prince up and administer the medicines she pulled from her chest.
Niel's face took a moment before it started contorting and gagging. Una directed his face to the basin, where he wretched hideously. He wretched to the point that his stomach had been emptied and he heaved uncomfortably, but nothing more came. His eyes opened, but his gaze was far away and they moved him to lie back down in the bed. Una waited patiently for her next instructions.
Ivy mixed the herbs into an empty glass and waved at the woman next to her patient to indicate she'll be back before she ran to the kitchen to ask for warm water to add to the herbs. Ideally, she wanted to let the herbs steep a little longer since it would be more potent, but due to the delay between poisoning and treatment, Ivy figured she had to make due. Returning to her room, she instructed the woman to help the man upright, which she did without a single word. Ivy couldn't help but flash the woman a nervous smile before she she squeezed the man's cheeks to make it easier to pour the tonic. After she did, she quickly stepped back to avoid being vomited on.
It pleased her to see his quick reaction. Setting the glass on the side table, she leaned in close above him, throwing her blonde hair over her shoulder in irritation. Patting the man's cheeks, she said loudly, "Sir? Can you hear me? Hello?" She paused, then looked to the woman.
Unable to mask the wry tone in her voice, she asked, "What is his name? It might help grab his attention." She realized that in the few instances she came across the pair, she never thought to even ask for their names.
Niel's eyes had a dazed appearance as though he was trying to grasp his mind and situation. He wasn't able to form complete thoughts aside from pained groaning.Una looked between Ivy and the prince, wondering who she should be paying attention to. She asked for his name. Should she give it? Then again... it's not as though common folk knew the names of foreign royalty. She herself had no inkling of the names of the royal attendants until she was required to learn them.
"Niel. Or Chogan." Both names sounded foreign to her own tongue. She was so used to calling him by his title.
"Ch-chogan?" She called. "Niel?" She tried, her voice soft with uncertainty. "My lord?" She tried a bit more confidently.
It wasn't until both the bodyguard and the healer were working in tandem did their attempts reach the sickly man. His eyes came more into focus and his moans turned into legible sentences.
"I'm... alive? No... this is wrong... what happened? What happened?! My sister-no that doesn't matter. The banquet! Why am I alive?!" His eyes locked onto Una and he glared.
"You." The word itself sounded poisonous. "What part of head directly back to Errebist did you not understand? You useless piece of armor! You've ruined the plan! We need to-" He'd shot up in an attempt to strangle or at the very least harm his shield, but fell back from the exertion.
"That...damn... demon... I'm gonna... kill... him... you..." He panted between words, becoming more light headed. "Miss Ivy?... What...?"
Una watched her lord carefully, unsurprised by his anger, but concerned at his blatant outpouring of information. Miss Ivy was in the room and although she'd had a chance of living if Niel was successfully treated, her chances were quickly plummeting to nothing.
"You didn't die." Una confirmed, "So I brought you here. At the time, this option appeared to be the most suitable. If I left you alive, it would have been suspicious. I would have moved to slowly with you to make it out of town." She remained silent now, comfortable in acknowledging Niel as her director once more.
Niel listened, trying to catch his breath and attempting to understand the current situation. Shell had brought him here, to Ivy to be healed. And Ivy agreed? Despite their last meeting? His bodyguard must have persuaded her with money or threatened her life.
His eyes remained on the blonde woman, trying to assess how much she had comprehended from his outburst. "What do you... understand ...of my situation?... Are you going... to heal me?" He asked cautiously.
Ivy couldn't help but look on in surprised. Unless this man, Niel, wanted to commit suicide, she never expected someone to be so irritated, even angered by being saved. Her eyes narrowed as she heard him mention Errebist. Was he a royal from Errebist or just a diplomat? Why did he want to die at the banquet? What about the poisoning? Was that intentional? Why would he-?Her thoughts cut off as she saw him try to lunge out at the woman. She moved to press her hands against his shoulders, but it proved unnecessary when he dropped back to the bed in exhaustion. She was just wondering what he meant by demon when Niel addressed her.
Folding her arms, Ivy looked at him steadily. "To be honest, Niel, dear. I have no damn clue what is going on and frankly, I need some more details if I were to try any sort of treatment," she replied.
In light of being alive, Niel was angry. Very angry. The kingdom, as planned, would soon be scrambling for solutions whilst other nations began militarizing. Now that things had been set in motion, they needed to send word or return quickly. It would not be easy for them to leave so easily as things are now. Security and borders would be tightened lest the imaginary poisoner try to escape unnoticed. Had his bodyguard left on time...It was no use now. He had lived, amazingly. And now Ivy was involved. He couldn't very well travel in his condition...
"To be honest, Niel, dear..."
She knew his name now. Shell had definitely earned some form of punishment. Perhaps he'd fill her with some kind of anti-demon poison and feed her to Dixon. What happened to that low life? He owed some answers, undoubtedly.
"What kind of information so you require? If it's for the sake of my health, I will be honest." He was running out of options and as it was that he clearly couldn't rely on his sworn sword and shield, he'd have to fix this mess on his own. Meaning, he needed to live longer, thus needing Ivy. Or at the very least needing her until he found a replacement. She is... troublesome. He thought as she sized him up. He was at her mercy and also in control. He had Shell, so he could easily threaten her but if he had her killed, then he had no idea who he could turn to next. For the moment, she knew too much to have her walk freely, but that didn't mean she had to know that as well.
Ivy raised a critical brow, wondering what need was there to lie at all to a healer. Obviously the man held secrets, and it seemed the woman that is with him was not an equal to him as she first assumed. Gesturing to the woman, Ivy replied, "The lady here said it was poisoning, probably liquid. Did you taste anything in particular or smell anything? It'll be faster to look for an antidote if I had this information. And do you feel nauseous? Any headaches or loss of feeling in your limbs?"
While she listed off her questions in a serious manner, a touch of concern was in her voice. Perhaps her last encounter with Niel was unpleasant, Ivy couldn't eliminate the automatic concern that came to her when it came to helping people. Her grandmother used to say that whenever Ivy joined her to check up on patients, she made them ten times healthier with her kind presence than any medicine could do. Ivy always thought that was just an exaggeration and paid that no mind.
Ivy began question after question, trying to narrow down the supposed poison he'd been given. The corners of his mouth twitched upwards just thinking about her reaction to the truth."The wine was very good, of course, rich and red, dry, but aged to perfection. I'd expect nothing less from a royal banquet. I would think, though, that you should probably look more into demon-curing medicine because he is the reason for my ailments." Una nodded in agreement. He took a moment to cough and pause for a drink of water.
"I hope you might remember some ways that your grandmother fought demon-induced illness because I've no idea how I'm going to find an angel or that wretched demon at the moment."
Of course, the prince did not notice her concern, interpreting the slightly different tone in her voice as stress and tiredness. After all, it was clearly dark outside and he could imagine that, given how intimidating Shell tended to seem, Ivy might have been a bit rattled.
She bit back a sarcastic remark regarding the wine, thinking he was playing with her before she caught the rest of his words. Her expression became suspicious and a steely tone came into her voice as she stepped close to the bed, looking down at him. Was he mocking her? First he eavesdropped on her, insisted on her telling him personal things, and now he was saying a demon was involved with a royal banquet and poisoning. "A demon?" Ivy briefly glanced over to the woman next to Niel. "You have some nerve, Niel. What makes you think my dead grandmother ever found a way to fight demons and the illnesses they cause?" Her hand went to the locket around her neck that her grandmother had given to her, clenching it tightly as she looked at him. "Is it some kind of joke to you?"
In fact, Niel had been completely honest. Sure, his tone held signs of jest but his words were the truth. He realized his mistake in communication when her anger became apparent."Unfortunately, I am being perfectly serious. You recall that I came to you in order to seek more information on demons and your experiences with them. I'd heard from one of my Ears that one of the royal families was planning on working with a demon. One with powers that could bring a room of people to their knees. Being the open-minded man that I am, I looked into the threat, as you know, and found one. A man by the name of Dixon. Shell witnessed his powers in use one night because an unlucky carriage driver on an empty street spoke too brashly. And she watched him travel through shadows. Of course, it wasn't as though I could approach the man. He could have easily killed me, though his demeanor may have expressed otherwise." He partially-lied.
"My point is, Miss Ivy, that if your grandmother was at all successful in combating demon inflicted illnesses, then I encourage you to try and find it. Otherwise Shell and I may never be able to return back to our country."
Despite her irritation with him, it seemed the man was unfazed, which made Ivy want to become more angry, though she knew it was unreasonable. For some reason he tended to grate against her nerves, though she couldn't tell why. Their first meeting was absolutely pleasant, but she guessed his eavesdropping made her turn sour towards the man. She stood patiently, letting him get out what he needed to say. Ivy assumed the woman accompanying Niel must be the Shell that he mentioned. The name Dixon wasn't familiar to her, but she let that name sink into her mind. If she recalled correctly, the demon disguised as an angel never gave a name. It was hard to resist the urge to shudder. Her free hand unconsciously went to touch her scarred cheek.
Slowly, she shook her head, the blonde locks falling over her shoulders with the motion. "I can't guarantee that I can do anything." Her hands drop to her sides and she stepped back as she went to sit at the chair next to a table in the corner of her room. Looking across at Niel, Ivy looked thoughtful.
The silence that fell upon her lasted a few moments, her eyes hard to read. Then she blinked as if she came out of a trance and tilting her head, she stated more than asked, "You can read, Niel?"
Ivy's gaze made the prince unexpectedly self conscious. He knew he had the upper hand and yet... her gaze was so steady and calm, sending him into more of a frenzy than he expected to be. Of course, he was recently shocked by the revelation of not dying... that would be the reason of course. He refused to acknowledge that this common woman had any chance of power in her situation, regardless of how striking and mysterious she appeared to be. The silence, too, was a test of his security. He held his ground, waiting for her to speak."You can read, Niel? She asked smoothly.
Why would she ask such a question? Did she really think an accomplished man such as himself would be invited to the summit if he couldn't so much as read?
"Of course I can read." He all but scoffed, "In my current condition, however, it's difficult for me to focus on the words." He grumbled, frustrated with his ailments. He was able to breath well enough and his skin was getting less and less clammy, he still felt incredibly exhausted. He was holding onto consciousness primarily out of sheer will at this point.
Nodding, Ivy took hold of the locket and clicked it opened. Inside, she pulled out a piece of paper. Holding it up, Ivy looked at him intently. "I've only read my grandmother's medicine book, but I think this paper my grandmother told me to keep with me is in another language. Perhaps one you might know. She told me it was a prayer to keep away evil and I've kept it in my locket. She gave it to me during the time she was desperately searching for a cure. I don't know if it will help with the demon illness, but it's the only thing I could think of."Her eyes dropped to the paper in her hand before she held it out to Shell to take to Niel. "I wonder if it worked since I never fell ill. I mean, I guess I never attracted the demon's attention to be made ill," she added softly, more to herself than to the others in the room.
Una took the paper, briefly glancing at the odd markings before handing them off to her liege. Niel frowned, straining to focus on the words written down. The sweat beginning to bead at his brow indicated he was struggling, but his scowl meant that he wasn't in the mood to have that pointed out."It's... not a prayer." He sighed. "It's a recipe. It calls for heaven's water, basilisk scales, figweather root, and other odd ingredients." He groaned, exasperated. "Perhaps the demon just hoped you'd be killed in the fire or the townspeople would finish the job." He noted. "I doubt he'd be known for his compassion to children." He could feel his eyelids falling lower and lower. "Shell, get her something to write on and with. Ivy, write this down so you can understand it. I'm only going to read it once."
He rallied to collect himself once the materials had been found and he read the contents of the scrap, stumbling only a couple of times while fighting sleep. If he lost consciousness, would he wake up again? At this point, he wasn't sure if he could risk placing faith in his bodyguard again. Yet... if he died... plans might move forward easier... why couldn't he have just died as planned? Then he wouldn't have been in this mess. Or any mess for that matter. He really was going to kill that demon if it was the last thing he did.
A frown crinkled her brow as she stared at him pointedly for the unnecessary comment about the demon Niel made. But then she fell into business mode as she wrote out the ingredients and mixing process that Niel read out loud to her. Not only were they odd ingredients, for some, Ivy either had never heard of them or they only seemed to come from fairy tales. It made her nervous and she wondered if it was all a ruse, something to give false hope when it was just inevitable to die when it came to a demon's power. Glancing over at Niel, she noticed he was trying to resist the urge to sleep. Ivy let out a soft sigh and she rose to her feet. "I think the imminent danger on your life has passed for now. Rest will help. I'll try to see if my grandmother's book has anything in it that could hint as to where to find these ingredients, so for now, just lie there," she instructed, grabbing the book as she made her way to the door.
Una wasn't quite sure what to make of the situation. Ivy was clearly not taking very kindly to her lord's words and yet Prince Niel seemed to have a relatively harsh demeanor towards the woman. It was as though she made him uncomfortable for some reason. Una had only witnessed his irritated side around Niel's sister and father. Of course, those cases had been different as well.Ivy urged his highness to rest while she left to study her grandmother's book.
"You can't ... just leave." He panted. "Shell, go with her." He ordered. Both knew protocol should the fortune teller try anything funny. Una was a bit uncertain if she could leave the prince alone in his condition, but she couldn't allow Ivy to move freely either. Plus, if Ivy revealed anything to locally posted guards, there could be worse trouble.
Nodding obediently, the bodyguard rose and followed the survivor out the door.
Ivy was about to protest when she paused, thinking it would be better to just let the man sleep than to argue. For whatever reason, he wanted Shell to follow her, which she thought was odd but then again, she didn't know how important the man's rank was. Just that he was from Errebist and certainly important enough to be at the banquet. She paid no heed to Shell as she descended the stairs. Not because she wanted to be unfriendly, but she couldn't help but feel determined to see if her grandmother knew more about demons than she let on when she was alive. Nodding a greeting to the innkeeper, Ivy went to take a seat by the fireplace, using the light to read by. It wasn't so late in the night that it was unreasonable to be up and about, but it was late enough where the first floor was absolutely quiet. No guests lingering over a meal or a drink. No one chatting away. It could have been unsettling if it weren't for Shell's presence.
She concentrated on reading for around a couple hours, flipping through pages and occasionally glancing over at Shell with mild curiosity. However, as the night drew on, Ivy's eyes grew heavy and her head began to bob as sleepiness began to press on her shoulders.
After watching his two companions leave, Niel quickly fell back to sleep. He had been slightly anxious at the thought, but for some reason Ivy's assurance gave him confidence that, indeed, he would awaken again. He dreamed of the burning castle and the cheers of joy from his army, his father clapping him on the back in pride and recognition. And he's happy. Suddenly, he remembers that he forgot something back inside the castle, so he goes to retrieve it. His sister calls after him teasingly to not bother coming back out. He pays her no mind and continues on his way, past the fallen guards and the ashen hallways to the dining room. Dixon is waiting there in the fire, just as calm and dismissive to the flames as Niel himself. He wore his old floppy hat and rested his feet on what was left of the banquet dining table."You decided to stay?"
"You decided to live."
"Not by choice."
"Yes by choice."
"I forgot it."
"What did you forget?"
"You know."
"Yes, I know." His lighthearted grin annoyed the prince. He knew what he was looking for, but the words wouldn't form on his tongue.
"Give it to me."
"Take it from me."
"What do you want for it?"
"You know what I want."
"No, I don't."
"Then you won't have it."
"Just give it back."
"I won't give you what you thought to lose in the first place without proper compensation."
Niel continued to wrestle through his black dream surprisingly peacefully, getting lost in his thoughts.
Una followed silently and took it upon herself to empty and clean the basin that Niel had defiled to the best of her ability while she watched over the palm reader. Unfortunately, she had made quick work of the task, so the next couple hours were simply spent watching Ivy read by the fire for light. Although the bodyguard hardly had trouble staying awake, her task was rather boring. Ivy gave no indication that she would be running any time soon and no soldiers were present for her to reveal her patient to.
Una caught herself staring at the odd figures and drawings on the pages the blonde woman was reading from. What meanings did they hold? Was it considered normal for commoners like her to be able to read in Pyry?
Soon enough, Ivy's own exhaustion was beginning to show. Her head would bob and sway, eyes drooping further and further as she struggled to keep her consciousness for her task.
Una wondered if she should intervene. If course, Niel was currently occupying the woman's bed... Although her chair was not ideal for comfort, it was preferable to cold and unforgiving floor. The innkeeper would not have customers sleeping in the lobby either. Bad business if they are promoting rooms, but even their guests don't stay in them. Should she allow the woman to sleep? Her job was certainly important, but if she couldn't function without rest, there was little the bodyguard could argue against. Even Una had to sleep eventually, though she had no idea when that would be with Niel in his current condition. It would certainly be easier if she could keep an eye on both of them at the same time...
Egging the woman to wake up, Una nudged Ivy after she'd nodded off for the third time.
"You're tired. It will be easier for me if you both sleep in the same room." She explained briefly.
"You're right in assuming I don't know what a demon would want. But you can be assured than I will give you anything that is within my power to give. I'm willing to give my life for my cause if that's what it takes." He stated seriously.
"The event shouldn't be able to be traced back to you. I was thinking if we could make it appear that Pyry was the one to attack first, at a peace summit no less, the town and soon the country would follow." He shook his head lightly, "What do you want?"